Poppies

Thirty years ago, I moved with my family to live and work in the Highlands. This was my first teaching position after being a mature student and graduating with a History and Teaching Degree. I soon found out that I would be teaching Standard Grade History. Part of the course was World War One (War in the Trenches). After twenty years teaching WWI History, I had a knowledge of life in the trenches, and how much it affected life in the Highlands, and why so many men left farming/crofting. Little did they know what experiences they would have.

I spent twenty years in the trenches - sixteen years longer than the War lasted. I know now why the poppy has become relevant and why it has become so important to those whose relatives did not return home. Many Highland soldiers did not return, and the poppy reminds me of their sacrifice. I have retired from teaching now and I still live in the Highlands but when I see poppies blooming I am reminded of the many who did not return home.

HEAR MORE ABOUT JIM'S JOURNEY STONE

This audio forms part of a series of audio interviews conducted in 2023 by Smartify as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project. Listen and discover the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands through the eyes of the stitchers of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.

Join Jimmy in conversation with the Maerl stitchers as he talks about the inspiration behind his journey stone and two decades of teaching the history of the First World War.

Well, everyone knows what a poppy symbolises. To me, it was peaceful and doing it was very peaceful as well...so much so that I took it back and I put in a frame and I kept it in the house. So I'll have to do another one...